Teen Flash Mob Attacks Convenience Store Clerk in Dallas

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Surveillance footage has been released after a flash mob of Dallas teenagers attacked a convenience store clerk, kicking and punching him, and stealing goods off the shelves.

C.J. Thomas, the store clerk, was behind the counter on Aug. 26 when dozens of teens descended on the store in a matter of minutes just after 10 p.m., WFAA-TV reported.

“There was more coming in than going out,” Thomas told the station. “Once they realized how many were in there, one of the students started throwing stuff and screamed out. Everything after that went crazy.”

Footage shows teens throwing bottles around the store at one another. Thomas said he ran to the front door to try to close it when he noticed teens stealing, but couldn’t hold back the crowd.

“In the process of them walking out, tried to stop a student with a lot of things in his hands and when I tried to do that, he shoved me out into the parking lot and swung at me,” Thomas said.

Thomas said several men pushed him to the ground and started beating him.

“I was terrified,” he said. “At first, I thought I would be able to get back into the store, and once they got me on the ground, I thought they were going to kill me.”

He said two girls eventually stepped in to stop the men, which he believes saved his life. In all, he suffered cuts on his nose, eyes and lip, as well as a bruised rib and bicep.

Police are investigating the incident as an aggravated robbery assault. Thomas said he hopes the video will inspire people to come forward.

“If you all have any idea who did this, please put their names out there, ’cause if they don’t get caught, they are going to do it again,” Thomas said.